LIVE: Oxford Development Abroad night
Oxford Development Abroad night
The Wheatsheaf, 25th April
On a balmy spring evening, notorious sweatbox The Wheatsheaf is not the obvious venue to head towards but there are two reasons we’ve forsworn sunny pub gardens to head upstairs into the hot, sticky darkness tonight. Firstly, it’s all for charidee dahling! Secondly, organiser Jessica Begon’s done us proud, booking some of the best loved local student bands to play tonight in aid of ODA. Female fronted St.
Hugh’s four piece The Objections start proceedings, with smouldering lyrics, some awesome bass lines and a lot of comehither eyes action. Although the crowd’s not massive at this point it continues to grow as people are drawn away from their pints by the consistently high quality of the song writing and performance. Next up are Deptford Mice who treat the audience to a set of trademark pedal- happy post-rock. The atmosphere is notable, with people really intent on the music.
The drumming is unpredictable and perfectly judged, and the levels are much better than their last Wheatsheaf performance, with a little more attention paid to the ‘cello and an effective, if not slick, switch from live drums to machine.
If you’re a fan of the three minute pop song then Deptford Mice probably aren’t the band for you, but whatever your musical inclinations, you couldn’t fail to be impressed by the energy this band put into their songs - by the end of the set the guitarist’s fi nger has eroded to a bloody stump. Figment are the only band tonight not all from Oxford, but if they fi nd the idea of playing to a largely uninitiated crowd intimidating then they sure as hell don’t show it.
Maybe it’s the smugness that comes with being the only band to have brought a roadie that does it but, hurling huge riffs around the stage, they manage to swagger and sneer like a band playing to a sold-out stadium. The poor things are sweating so much it’s a wonder they don’t electrocute themselves but this energetic set does the trick, and the crowd start moving.
Circuit stalwarts November headline the evening, giving the crowd exactly what they have come to expect from this Queen’s three-piece: a quality set of hard- hitting fast-paced indie rock. With a no-nonsense approach they punch out song after song, once again blowing everyone in the room away with the tightness they manage to achieve live. Four eclectic, entertaining bands and a worthy cause: it’s this kind of night that should make us Oxfordians proud of our ever-expanding music scene.
4th May 2006